A member of our Ear, Nose and Throat team, Robert Fischer, MD, is an otolaryngologist, dedicated to providing high-quality, up-to-date care to adults and children with ear, nose and throat conditions. Dr. Fischer is board-certified in Otolaryngology with three decades of ENT experience. He is well-equipped to provide medical and surgical care for the full range of disorders, from ear and sinus problems, to head & neck surgery and facial plastic surgery. A magna cum laude graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Dr. Fischer earned his medical doctorate from the Medical College of Wisconsin and completed his Otolaryngology residency at Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Virginia as part of a 10-year association with the U.S. Navy Medical Corps. After discharge, he practiced at Duluth Clinic in Minnesota and Wind River ENT in Lander, WY, before joining Trinity Health in 2015. He practiced four years with Sanford Health in Bemidji, MN, before returning to Trinity.
Meniere's disease
Kelsey Artz, AuD
Trinity Health is pleased to welcome Kelsey Artz, AuD, to our team of hearing specialists. Kelsey is a Doctor of Audiology trained in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of hearing and balance disorders in adults and children. Her goal is helping people optimize hearing to enhance relationships and stay involved in the activities they enjoy. A Bottineau native, Kelsey earned her Bachelor of Science in Speech Language Hearing Science from Minnesota State University-Moorhead. She received her Doctor of Audiology degree at A.T. Still University, Mesa, AZ, and completed her doctoral training at Wake Forest Baptist Health in Winston-Salem, NC. Among her areas of expertise are hearing aids and assistive technology, testing for vertigo and other balance disorders, and support for cochlear implant and bone-anchored hearing devices.
Alycia Coutts, FNP-C
A board-certified nurse practitioner, Alycia Coutts, FNP-C, cares for patients as a member of our Ear, Nose & Throat team. She works with otorhinolaryngology surgeons and other team members to manage the care of children and adults with acute and chronic ENT conditions such as ear infections and other concerns, sinusitis, head & neck problems, and sleep issues. Alycia received her Master of Science degree in Family Nurse Practice from Simmons University. Prior to that she earned an Associate of Science Degree in Nursing from Williston State College and worked as an RN at Trinity Health as a family practice nurse and a charge nurse in Labor & Delivery. A member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, and the North Dakota Nurse Practitioner Association, Alycia enjoys spending time outside with her family and watching hockey.
Rob Thomas, MD
A specialist in Ear, Nose and Throat Medicine (Otolaryngology) and Head and Neck Surgery, Dr. Thomas provides medical and surgical care for children and adults with ear, nose, and throat conditions, including ear infections, snoring, sleep apnea, hearing loss, dizziness, voice evaluation and surgery, and thyroid and salivary gland disorders. He earned his medical degree from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, where he was named a member of Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society in recognition of scholarship and professionalism. He completed a five-year residency in Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Florida, Gainesville. He’s a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery.
Tricia Nechodom, AuD
Tricia M. Nechodom, AuD, is a Doctor of Audiology, skilled in all aspects of evaluation and diagnosis of hearing disorders through the lifespan. Her clinical interests include: hearing aid prescription and fitting, Cochlear implant programming, hearing conservation, pediatric diagnostics, electrophysiological hearing tests for infants and young children and newborn hearing screening program.
Tricia earned her degree at the University of Minnesota and completed her training at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital and the University of Minnesota Medical Center. She is a certified pediatric specialist through the American Board of Audiology and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology. She belongs to the American Cochlear Implant Alliance, ND Hands & Voices and the North Dakota Hearing Society. Tricia aims to advance audiological best practice protocols and guidelines within Trinity and the state of North Dakota by actively participating in local and national continuing education, conferences, and training opportunities.
Jerrica Maxson, AuD
Jerrica L. Maxson, AuD, is a Doctor of Audiology, skilled in all aspects of testing and diagnosis of hearing disorders with clinical interests in pediatric audiology, cochlear implant programming, and fitting/management of hearing aids for children and adults. A Minot native, she received her early audiology training at the University of North Dakota, completing her doctorate at the University of Iowa. She then completed a 4th year externship at the Central Institute for the Deaf Oral School in St. Louis, a school dedicated to teaching deaf and hard of hearing children to listen and speak for communication. She served as a pediatric cochlear implant audiologist at St. Louis Children’s Hospital before returning to her hometown to join Trinity Health.
Jerrica holds her Certificate of Clinical Competence with the American Speech Language Hearing Association. She is the North Dakota Chapter Champion with the American Cochlear Implant Alliance. She is professionally licensed with the North Dakota Board of Examiners for Hearing Instrument Specialists, and the North Dakota State Board of Examiners for Audiology. She has been a board member of the North Dakota Hands & Voices since institution in 2011.